MACOMB, Ill. —Brett Pendell was a perfect 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and scored two runs as Western Illinois grabbed an 11-5 win from North Park Wednesday at Alfred D. Boyer Stadium. Western (13-14) never trailed North Park (5-8) using a seven-run first inning to set the pace.

“It was good to see the bats rolling and score seven in the first and get our pitchers the lead,” Western head coach Stan Hyman said. “I was really encouraged today. Brett wasn’t hitting the ball like he had been so it was really good to see him have three quality at-bats and hit the ball well.”

Cooper Stewart went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and scored a pair of runs. Matt Newquist added to his RBI total with three after hitting a bases-clearing double. Travis Check scored a pair of runs and stole two bases while driving in one run.

“We had bunch of guys hit line drives and hit the ball well today,” Hyman said. “What I was really impressed with was our defense. We made some double plays and Check made some plays in the outfield that really helped us. This is probably one of the few times our pitching wasn’t as sharp, but offensively we scored enough runs for a change.”

Western opened the game with seven runs in the bottom of the first including four straight hits from T.J. Kistner, Chris Mayr, Dan Johnson and Kyle Surprenant. Pendell recorded two hits in the first inning alone. He led off the game with a bunt-single to third and then ripped a two-out, two-run single to center field.

The Leathernecks added a run in the fourth when Stewart’s double drove home Pendell. Western scored its final three runs in the sixth on Newquist’s double that brought home Surprenant, Stewart and Check.

“I take my hate off to North Park, after we score seven in the first, they out score us 5-4 the rest of the way,” Hyman said. “They could have rolled over. I give them a lot credit. I was really impressed. This was an ugly win, but I think our guys can take a lot from it.”

The Vikings scored their five runs on nine hits. P.J. Richards (0-1) took the loss.

Western will now host Chicago State Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series. The Leathernecks will play the Cougars Saturday in a noon doubleheader before the series concludes Sunday at noon.